Nostalgia
was served on a silver platter at the Adrienne Arsht Center For The
Performing Arts in Miami when the touring company of “I Love Lucy Live
On Stage” made their debut.
The show consists of two episodes from
the 1950s as taped for broadcast showing including the original
commercials, songs from the era, with the crew and cameramen doing their
job in full sight of the audience.
For a show
that can still be seen on a television set somewhere in the world every
day since it made its debut 63 years ago on October 15, 1951, the first
question regarding this live show is going to be about the actors
playing the roles of icons loved by all.
Lori Hammel as Vivian
Vance/Ethel Mertz doesn’t resemble the original actress at all but puts
across being the foil for Lucy and her madcap antics. Kevin Remington as
William Frawley/ Fred Mertz fades into the scenery. The Cuban born,
Miami raised Euriamis Losada, plays Desi Arnaz/Ricky Ricardo with all
the charm and the subtle eyes for the ladies that the original had. He
belts out “Babalu”, does a mean job on the bongos and is the perfect
straight man for Lucy, doing the rapid Spanish and destruction of the
English language, as she drives him crazy.
Thea
Brooks as Lucille Ball/Lucy Ricardo has the red hair, the flair for
physical comedy, does all the whines, cries and off tune singing that
the Hollywood actress brought to the small screen but there was only one
Lucille Ball and Brooks doing her best does a good job yet lacks that
‘it’ the madcap actress had to bring the audience to tears with
laughter.
The ensemble, whether doing the Alka Seltzer commercial or
singing “Wheel of Fortune”, are a talented group but the real standout,
stealing every scene she is in, from the opening playing a member of the
audience exchanging quips with Mark Christopher Tracy as Maury Jasper
the host and warm up man, to being a charwoman is Denise Moses.

Whether a child or adult, everybody loves Lucy.

The show runs 95 minutes without an intermission